Ofsted: Good trending_up Popular emoji_events #11 in Lancashire public Top 8% UK

Holy Cross Catholic High School

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMr Ivan Gaughan

location_onChorley, PR7 3LS

language Visit Website phone 1257262093

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2017

groups

Students

987

trending_up

Attainment 8

leaderboard

GCSE Rank

#11 in Lancashire

#477 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

Holy Cross Catholic High School is a Voluntary aided school secondary school in Chorley, serving ages 11-16. Rated Good by Ofsted. Demand is above capacity (1.1×) — apply through your local authority on time.

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School Summary

Holy Cross Catholic High School is a voluntary aided school in Chorley, Lancashire, admitting pupils aged 11-16. The school has approximately 977 pupils on roll, of whom 13% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 55, placing the school #11 in Lancashire and #477 of 3,216 nationally. 66.70% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 32.0% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2017. The school's current overall rating is Good.

The school is oversubscribed — in the most recent cycle, there were 1.1× as many applications as places, making a successful application competitive.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 17.2:1. There is 1 teaching vacancy.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were 2 permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 1.5 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

analytics

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2025

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

66.70%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)32.0%

Entering EBacc37.00%

EBacc APS4.92

2024

Progress 8 Score

0.75

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

56.9

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc37.40%

EBacc APS5.07

2023

Progress 8 Score

0.34

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

52.3

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc31%

EBacc APS4.59

2022

Progress 8 Score

0.52

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

57.1

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc40%

EBacc APS5.1

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc34%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

0.13

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc33%

EBacc APS4.52

2018

Progress 8 Score

-0.04

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc31%

EBacc APS4.41

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Student Destinations (After Secondary)

This module shows what students did after finishing Key Stage 4 (GCSEs). It reflects how well the school prepares pupils for the real world.

2025

Stayed in Education / Employment

90%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)81%

Apprenticeships4%

Employment5%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)8%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

96%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)85%

Apprenticeships4%

Employment8%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)3%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

98%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)91%

Apprenticeships5%

Employment2%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)1%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

95%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)85%

Apprenticeships6%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)5%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

93%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)83%

Apprenticeships7%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)7%

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

14 September 2022

Inspection Report

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24 October 2017

Inspection Report

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11 February 2014

Inspection Report

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16 November 2010

Inspection Report

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01 October 2008

Inspection Report

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26 March 2008

Inspection Report

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22 November 2006

Inspection Report

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10 January 2005

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

3 Evaluations

2017-10-24

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2014-02-11

S8 No Formal Designation Visit Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2010-11-16

None EIF

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

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Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

1.0%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

National average: 7.3% for this term (secondary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

0.9%(9 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 977 pupils. During this period, there were 10 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 1.0%, which is below the termly national average of 7.3%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg	Perm. Excl.
2024/25 (Spring term)	977	10	1.0%	7.3%	0
2024/25 (Autumn term)	984	19	1.9%	7.8%	2
2023/24 (Summer term)	976	28	2.9%	7.4%	1
2023/24 (Spring term)	984	32	3.3%	7.1%	4
2023/24 (Autumn term)	984	39	4.0%	8.2%	0
2022/23 (Summer term)	976	22	2.3%	6.6%	5
2022/23 (Spring term)	987	45	4.6%	6.4%	2
2022/23 (Autumn term)	987	25	2.5%	5.9%	1
2021/22 (Summer term)	973	24	2.5%	4.7%	1
2021/22 (Spring term)	974	19	2.0%	4.9%	1
2021/22 (Autumn term)	979	16	1.6%	4.4%	1
2020/21 (Summer term)	945	16	1.7%	3.6%	1
2020/21 (Spring term)	950	8	0.8%	1.0%	3
2020/21 (Autumn term)	950	31	3.3%	3.9%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	918	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	918	15	1.6%	3.2%	2
2019/20 (Autumn term)	919	29	3.2%	4.2%	2
2018/19 (Summer term)	866	21	2.4%	3.1%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	868	17	2.0%	3.8%	1
2018/19 (Autumn term)	868	7	0.8%	3.8%	0
2017/18 (Summer term)	815	13	1.6%	3.4%	1
2017/18 (Spring term)	818	6	0.7%	3.0%	2
2017/18 (Autumn term)	819	11	1.3%	3.7%	0
2016/17 (Summer term)	779	5	0.6%	3.0%	0
2016/17 (Spring term)	788	12	1.5%	3.3%	0
2016/17 (Autumn term)	785	15	1.9%	3.1%	2

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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psychology_alt

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Other Difficulty/Disability 45 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 41 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 24 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 19 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 18 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 17 pupils

Hearing Impairment 5 pupils

Physical Disability 4 pupils

Visual Impairment 2 pupils

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Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

95.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

96.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

20.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree53%

agree35%

disagree6%

strongly disagree4%

don't know2%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree26%

agree42%

disagree17%

strongly disagree12%

don't know3%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree35%

agree22%

disagree8%

strongly disagree5%

don't know3%

not applicable27%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

yes11%

no89%

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

strongly agree57%

agree14%

disagree14%

dont know14%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree55%

agree29%

disagree6%

strongly disagree3%

don't know7%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree52%

agree35%

disagree6%

strongly disagree2%

don't know6%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree43%

agree38%

disagree13%

strongly disagree5%

don't know2%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree55%

agree42%

disagree1%

strongly disagree1%

don't know2%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree68%

agree27%

disagree4%

strongly disagree1%

don't know1%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree43%

agree33%

disagree12%

strongly disagree4%

don't know8%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes89%

no11%

Top Secondary Schools in Lancashire

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

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Clitheroe Royal Grammar School

Outstanding

location_on Clitheroe, BB7 2DJ

emoji_events #1 in LA

Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School

Inadequate

location_on Rossendale, BB4 7BJ

emoji_events #2 in LA

Lancaster Girls' Grammar School

Good

location_on Lancaster, LA1 1SF

emoji_events #3 in LA

Lancaster Royal Grammar School

Good

location_on Lancaster, LA1 3EF

emoji_events #4 in LA

Bishop Rawstorne Church of England Academy

Good

location_on Leyland, PR26 9HH

emoji_events #5 in LA

Broughton High School

Outstanding

location_on Preston, PR3 5JJ

emoji_events #6 in LA

View all schools in Lancashire arrow_forward

School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Faith Priority (Roman Catholic)

Distance to School

School Capacity

Secondary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Secondary Schools in Lancashire

Clitheroe Royal Grammar School

Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School

Lancaster Girls' Grammar School

Lancaster Royal Grammar School

Bishop Rawstorne Church of England Academy

Broughton High School